Metabolic and hormonal changes occurring during the peri-parturient period of the lactating dairy cow are both profound and significant. Transitioning into a non-pregnant, lactating state from a pregnant, non-lactating state results in a massive redistribution of body tissues that involves all major body systems. It has been reported that up to 60% of lactating cows may develop either metabolic or infectious diseases during the first 60 days of lactation (Bisinotto, 2012).
Costs
Given that potentially 60% of lactating dairy cows may be affected by at least 1 disorder during the first 60 days of lactation, the productivity costs associated with the diagnosis, treatment, labour, and infrastructure represent a significant profit opportunity for the dairy enterprise. These variables do not account for the ongoing biological cost of the disease itself, which directly impacts the total production during the lactation, individual cow fertility, and culling risk. To provide a brief example, hypocalcemia (including subclinical hypocalcemia) has been one of the most extensively studied metabolic conditions for the modern dairy herd.
It is now well understood that while only approximately 5% of cows in the US may be affected by clinical milk fever, almost 50% of periparturient cows may experience subclinical hypocalcemia. Early research suggested that a cow experiencing clinical hypocalcemia was 9 times more likely to exhibit symptoms of ketosis compared to cows who did not develop milk fever (Chamberlin et al 2013). Liang et al. reported that 1 case of hypocalcemia alone had an upfront cost (veterinary and labour) of approximately $102.00 and an additional $161.00 (culling risk, fertility, production) of future losses.
Continue reading this article published in Dairy Global.
